This strapping youngster could well be the next Apprentice on Donald Trump's show given his business acumen. Manu Jindal, a fourth year student of Punjab Engineering College (PEC ), who represented India in the Youth Development Contest organised by Oxford University last year in April, has bagged top spot and will be awarded a prize money of a whopping 1000 pounds! What's more Jindal was shortlisted from 48 teams from all over the world. The contest, as he tells us, was organised by the ace university to promote entrepreneurship and had invited business plans from all across the world. The plans had to not only to have a commercial angle but some social relevance too.

As for his winning business proposition, Jindal explains: "I thought that Chandigarh as such has no centre for providing basic facilities to the households, even to fix a light point one has to look for skilled labour. So I submitted a project where people from slums could be trained and made proficient in these basic services. And later through marketing strategies they can be made available to different houses in the city." While other countries, as Jindal adds, have helpline numbers for providing these basic services, he wishes the same to happen in his city.

The contest had three stages wherein the first stage the participants were to submit a one-page summary talking about their project. In the next stage, only those who had got shortlisted had to submit a business plan with the comprehensive data. In the last and final stage, the contestants had to face a conference call from Oxford University and were required to answer a set of questions. Manu was able to clear all the three rounds successfully and was declared as the winner on the basis that his business plan was the most feasible and comprehensive one.

Speaking of Jindal's project, M L Gupta, the Placement Incharge Officer of PEC who was also Manu's guide, says, "I had full confidence in Manu and was sure that he will win the contest. He has been a very active social worker and I wish him all the luck in life." When asked what he intends to do with the prize money, Jindal answers: "I will definitely give some money to my college and with the rest I will start a project of my own to serve society." Now that truly is how winners speak!